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Native Americans And Thanksgiving

Since this is Native American Heritage month and Thanksgiving is also this month, I thought this would be a good time to post this.

I know that Thanksgiving and pretty much any history involving Native Americans is usually not discussed, or if it is, it’s only a very small part, or it’s just not true.

I’ve found the latter to be the case with Thanksgiving. I have nothing against Thanksgiving. It’s good to have a day to give thanks (I think it is important to give thanks every day as well) and Thanksgiving dinner is definitely good. However, the history of Thanksgiving that is taught in schools and probably a lot of history books, isn’t true.

Thanksgiving didn’t happen exactly the way most people think it did. Also, I think it is important to note that Thanksgiving didn’t start in America, other countries have had similar days of giving thanks before America did.

One account of Thanksgiving is that the Pilgrims invited Indians to dinner, so they would not starve. This, of course, isn’t true.

Before the Pilgrims came, Native Americans had many celebrations to give thanks. I will try to keep this short and post a link for you all to read.

Some Puritans had come to America and built their colony, which they called The Plymouth Plantation. This colony was built on ruins of what was a Pawtuxet Indian village. Tisquantum (Squanto), who had been survived being taken to Europe twice, came upon the Puritans while out hunting. He had another Native with him and the Puritans were surprised that they both spoke English.

Many Puritans died, but with the help of Tisquantum and the Wampanoag people, some of the Puritans survived. The Natives taught them how to plant corn and catch game.

Then, the next year, still with the help of the Wampanoag people, they learned how to live and have plentiful harvest. To celebrate the good harvest, the governor announced they would have a three-day feast.

The Puritans only invited the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit. He brought about 90 or so Wampanoag people along with him. But these people had helped the Puritans survive and the Natives had even provided most of the food for the feast. So, most of the Natives that attended this feast were not invited and after that feast, the Puritans invited no Natives again.

I’m not saying in any way not to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s good and important to give thanks. But I also think it is important for people to know the real history of the Thanksgiving story that has always been told. So, know the real history, educated others who might not and on Thanksgiving day, give thanks and have a wonderful day with your family.